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PODCAST

Once Upon a Project

SANDOW Design Group and SURROUND

As interior designers, we’re accustomed to celebrating the end of a project. But what about the people and process behind those designs? Once Upon a Project delves into the stories of creating the spaces that we inhabit with the designers who dreamed them up. Join AJ Paron, EVP and Design Futurist of SANDOW Design Group, in unraveling what it takes to bring interior design projects to fruition—from the designer’s inspiration to the setbacks, surprises, and serendipitous events along the

arts design

All Episodes

00:34:32

Biohacking Healthier Workplaces

Once Upon a Project ·

2025/11/12

When a loved one’s health challenge sparks a professional mission, design takes on new meaning. In this episode, AJ welcomes Erin McDannald, CEO of Elevated, to explore how biohacking principles are reshaping the modern workplace. From clean air and thermal comfort to the subtle influence of lighting and CO₂ levels, Erin shares how her personal journey inspired a new way of thinking about wellness at work. Together, they uncover how genetics, research, and interior design can converge to create

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00:34:02

Design Blueprint for Healthy Living in Asia

Once Upon a Project ·

2025/10/29

Is it possible to design cities that actively promote human wellness? Yes, and to find out how, host AJ Paron speaks with Stefano Tronci, Asia Pacific sustainability leader at SOM, about strategies for embedding health and sustainability into the built environment. From biophilic design and air quality to holistic spatial planning, Stefano shares how his team collaborates with developers, engineers, and city officials to create spaces that reduce stress, support wellbeing, and shape the future of

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00:36:36

Design Groundwork for Healing Spaces

Once Upon a Project ·

2025/10/15

How can design fuel healing and transform lives before a single brick is laid? Host AJ Paron explores a groundbreaking wellbeing initiative aimed at curing congestive heart failure. This unique collaboration brings together a design firm, a healthcare system, and an organization devoted to happiness. Joined by Nancy O’Brien of Experience Happiness and Deanna Hokanson, who worked with Hennepin Healthcare, AJ gets to the bottom of a revolutionary use of experience-based co-design. Together, they

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00:42:31

Building a Non-Toxic Hospital

Once Upon a Project ·

2025/10/01

What if hospitals could heal without exposing patients to harmful toxins? In this episode of Once Upon a Project, host AJ Paron sits down with sustainability provocateur (and stand-up comic) Eric Corey Freed of CannonDesign to explore radical new approaches to the built environment. From designing a toxin-free hospital to leveraging neuro-architecture and assumptions mapping, Eric shares how questioning defaults can unlock healthier, more sustainable design solutions.This season of Once Upon A

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00:39:13

Unlocking Creative Wellness: The Ongoing Project

Once Upon a Project ·

2025/09/17

How can designers protect their creativity while thriving in a fast-paced, high-pressure industry? Recorded live at NeoCon 2025, host AJ Paron sits down with a panel of experts from Shaw Contract to explore the vital topic of creative wellness in design. Together, Shannon Crider Langley, Kaley Decker, and Ashley Olson share practical tools and strategies for preventing burnout, sustaining passion, and finding balance between work and well-being. Tune in for candid insights and actionable takeaways

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00:33:34

Building Glass Houses on a Mountainside

Once Upon a Project ·

2025/09/03

Take a journey to the mountains with architect Michael Upwall and builder Gary Hill. Together, they explore their collaborative process in designing the stunning Pinnacle Sky home in Park City Utah. From their first project to the intricacies of constructing modern homes in harsh mountain environments, Michael and Gary share stories, challenges, and their unique bond. Passion, and effective communication are important in long-term collaborations, which Michael and Gary bring to every project.This

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00:42:33

How to Get Students in the Classroom Through Design

Once Upon a Project ·

2025/06/25

Learn about the transformative power of well-designed educational environments.

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00:39:52

The Power of Multisensory Design

Once Upon a Project ·

2025/06/13

Sensory design expert Russell Jones sits with AJ to explore the fascinating world of multisensory design in the built environment. Learn how Russell and his team transformed the iconic John Lewis & Partners department store into a testbed for sensory innovation, balancing the needs of neurodiverse visitors, enhancing brand experience, and creating environments that are both immersive and inclusive.Russell's eBook: Designing For Humans: How cross-modal neuroscience can transform the built

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00:41:49

Unveiling the Intersection of Design and Neuroscience

Once Upon a Project ·

2025/05/28

Explore the powerful connection between design and neuroscience with Suchi Reddy an NYC based architect, designer, and artist. Discover how design can influence our emotions, well-being, and human connection through compelling stories and innovative projects. Suchi shares her journey from architectural practice to art installations at Salone del Mobile and discusses the groundbreaking work in neurasthenics. This thought-provoking conversation uncovers how spaces can evoke physiological and

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00:43:07

Solving for Color Deserts

Once Upon a Project ·

2025/05/14

Dive into the world of color with one of host AJ Paron’s design heroes, Laura Guido-Clark. Laura discusses the psychology of color, its impact on our lives, and how her company, Love Good Color, leverages this knowledge to transform spaces. Learn about her inspiring work with Project ColorCorps, where she brings vibrant transformations to underserved communities, creating environments that reflect joy, belonging, and empowerment. Discover how careful consideration of hues, temperaments, and cultural

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00:39:38

Designing for Autism: Innovative Spaces with Steve...

Once Upon a Project ·

2025/04/30

An expert in inclusive environments, Steve Orfield, President at Orfield Laboratories, Inc., offered up the quietest room in the world to record this episode. Host AJ Paron and Steve discuss their collaboration on a groundbreaking project for Fraser, Minnesota’s leading autism treatment provider, focusing on creating scientifically designed, peaceful spaces for individuals with autism. Discover how science and empathy come together to shape environments that enhance human experience.This season of

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00:39:50

2,700 Pounds Suspended Overhead While You Dine:...

Once Upon a Project ·

2025/04/16

Wild, ambitious projects can be done — or they can be epic.

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00:25:38

Yinka Ilori: Designing for Joy at NeoCon 2024

Once Upon a Project ·

2024/07/17

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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56:09

Wood for Good: The Case for Sustainable Furniture

Once Upon a Project ·

2024/06/03

In this special edition episode, we are joined by Gene Wilson, Vice President of Merchandising and Vendor Management at Room & Board. Explore a groundbreaking initiative in sustainable design as we learn how Room & Board, a pioneering American furniture company, is transforming discarded wood into stunning heirloom furniture through their Urban Wood Project.Discover how this line of products not only prevents waste but also creates jobs and supports local communities across the country. We’ll hear

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51:56

Design Déjà vu

Once Upon a Project ·

2024/05/13

David Shove-Brown, co-founder of //3877, a D.C.-based architecture and design firm specializing in hospitality shares the story of one of their most challenging projects—a historic building turned restaurant that they redesigned not once, but twice! Learn how //3877 balanced the unique challenges of working within a historic structure while creating a vibrant dining experience, and how unexpected events like an earthquake can impact a project.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

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49:04

6 Million Square Feet

Once Upon a Project ·

2024/04/08

Join host AJ Paron in an enlightening conversation with Jennifer Kolstad, the Global Design and Brand Director at Ford Motor Company, as they delve into the fascinating world of design and its profound impact. Despite her limited background in healthcare design, Jennifer took on the monumental task of spearheading the six-million-square-foot Kuwait Children’s Hospital project with HKS. Together, they explore the intricacies of this ambitious endeavor and touch on themes of innovation, empathy, and

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48:08

"Cut a Hole in Where?” Bold moves for Back to Work...

Once Upon a Project ·

2024/03/11

Big business means a big office. For Boston Consulting Group’s Canadian HQ in Toronto, HOK Canada was the architecture, planning, and engineering firm for the job. Regional winner for the Best of Canada Design Awards for Shaw Contract 2023, Caitlin Turner, project lead and Director of Interiors at HOK Canada, discusses how the project became such a success with host AJ Paron. From tenant-improvement fit-ups, and championing Toronto’s mighty emerging design scene to planning for serendipitous

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46:36

Design Goes to Court

Once Upon a Project ·

2024/02/12

If you ever find yourself in court, you’re going to hope it’s this family circuit in Orlando, Florida. Designed by Jose Jordan who comes from an architectural family and is a current Principal at DLR Group, his scientific approach to architecture with a focus on tactile materials has led him to this niche of civic architecture. Host A.J. Paron shares a personal story that helps hammer home the importance of Jordan’s design ideas like planning for privacy, ensuring views of nature, and the inclusion

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51:19

Designing for the Sport of Sex

Once Upon a Project ·

2024/01/08

This might be the one sex shop you can walk into with your mother and not feel awkward. When given the brief to design a SoHo storefront for Contact Sports, an elevated and experiential sex and wellness destination, Madelynn Ringo was obviously intrigued. As the founder of her own NYC-based eponymous design studio, working with Contact Sports’ founders Justin and Chelsea Kerzner was a match made in heaven, two disruptive and creative teams collaborating to bring their respective visions to

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45:45

Channeling Serena Williams Through Design at Nike...

Once Upon a Project ·

2023/12/11

Hear the story behind designing a 1-million-square-foot Nike World Headquarters building that set out to change and inspire how a legacy brand and thousands of employees work. Nita Posada, a partner and director of interior design at Skylab Architecture, explains the multi-faceted functionality of the monumental Serena Williams Building. With “Phenom, Warrior, Muse” as the guiding design principles inspired by the legendary athlete, Posada describes the deliberate work behind every detail, like

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32 results

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